In the period before
European settlement of Australia, there were forms of
Indigenous architecture across Australia. Early colonists and explorers including
Sir Thomas Mitchell and
Charles Sturt recorded many Indigenous building styles including stone houses and houses grouped in villages. As a
British colony, the first European buildings were derivative of the European fashions of the time. As most of the colonialists were from England the first buildings reflected English ideas.
Georgian architecture is seen in early government buildings and the homes of the wealthy. The architect
Francis Greenway, who appears on the
Australian ten-dollar note designed early buildings in the Georgian style. Examples include the
Hyde Park Barracks,
St James' Church and St Matthews Church at
Windsor. With the
Australian gold rushes of the mid-19th-century major buildings, largely in
Melbourne and
Sydney and to a lesser extent in regional capitals such as
Ballarat and
Bendigo were built in the style of
Victorian architecture. From about 1850 to 1893
Italianate architecture was also popular as it allowed greater displays of prosperity through rich and ornate decorate features such as
cast iron lace work and slate roofs. Significant concern was raised during the 1960s, with
green bans and heritage concerns responding to the destruction of earlier buildings and the skyscraper boom, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, but affecting other major cities including Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane. Green bans helped to protect historic 18th-century buildings in
The Rocks from being demolished to make way for office towers, and prevented the
Royal Botanic Gardens from being turned into a carpark for the
Sydney Opera House. In Melbourne a battle was fought to preserve historic
Carlton, Victoria from slum reclamation for
public housing, while
gentrification played a big part in the suburb's salvation. In Melbourne's city centre, the destruction was particularly profound:
Whelan the Wrecker was a family owned and operated
demolition company that operated from 1892 until 1992, which became well known through the 1950s, 70s and 80s when signs stating that "Whelan the Wrecker is Here" appeared on many of the grand Victorian era buildings of
Marvellous Melbourne. One of the most lamented losses in Melbourne was the
Federal Coffee Palace on Collins Street and the
APA Building (inspired by Chicago's early skyscrapers) at 49
Elizabeth Street. Many of the destruction occurred after the
International Modernism style arrived in Australia, making Australians particularly conscious about Victorian architecture they felt was "dated". In the 21st century, many Australian architects have taken a more
avant-garde approach to design, and many buildings have emerged that are truly unique and reflective of Australia's culture and values. As a result, many Australian practices are beginning to expand their influence overseas rather than the reverse which was often the case. Melbourne is seen as the city at the forefront of design ideas. Sydney is focusing on the
humanist approach tending towards
minimalism and architecture in Queensland is interested in outdoor rooms and the filtering of light. Furthermore, greater appreciation for Australia's historic architecture has led to increased heritage protection for many buildings in Australia's cities, though not all buildings are protected, and some allow for
façadism if the interior is unsustainable or unsafe. ==Australian architectural styles==